Bilge block



D, 2, 1924. 1,517,345 I J. L. CRANDALL BILGE BLOCK Patented Bec. 2,1924.

JAMES L. CRANDALIJ, F MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

BILG-E BLOCK.

Application filed C'ctpbei' 23, 1922. Serial No. 596,224.

To all w hom t may concern Be it known that I, JAMES L. CRANDALL, acitizen of the United States, residing at Malden, inthe county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inBilge Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bilge-blocks for dry docks, and has for itsobject to improve 1.@ the construction of the same to the end that avery substantial block may be produced, capable of resisting orsupporting a heavy weight, which may be operated easily even when theweight is upon it.

The invention may consist of a base-block and a bilge-engaging blockpivoted thereon and rollers which are adapted to roll upon each otherand the base and bilge-engaging blocks whereby to raise and lower thebilge-` engaging block; and said rollers and blocks may be so arrangedas to be set in the raised position of the bilge-engaging block wherebyto maintain the bilge-engaging block in raised position; and theinvention also consists in means to operate said rollers.

F ig. 1 is a side elevation of a bilge-block for dry-docks embodying theinvention, the bilge-engaging block being lifted into its normal oi'raised position to engage the bilge 30 of the vessel.

F ig. 2 is a` view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating thebilge-engagiiig block in lowered position. p

Fig. 3 is a front View of the bi'lge block of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section along line 1--4 of JFig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of the bilgeblock raising and loweringmechanism taken along line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the lower roller of the mechanism.

As here shown the bilge-engaging block l0 is or may be mounted upon andpivoted to the base-block 1l by the pivot-members 12, and said pivotmembers may be of any suitable construction as, for instance, thatillustrated in my Patent No. 808,072, dated December 26, 1905. Saidpivot members may beformed or provided with inwardlydirected projections12a which are adapted to engage, whereby to limit the extent of theraising movement of the bilge-engaging block.

The means for raising and lowering the bilge-engaging block is locatedat the outer end thereof opposite its pivotal connection and betweensaid bilge-enga-ging block and said base block 11.

The raising and lowering means may include a plate 1li which is or maybe secured to the under side vof the bilge-engaging block. Said plate isor may be formed at its ends with the, preferably, cylindricallyformedcam faces 15, the axis of which is disposed transversely to saidbilge-engaging block. The intermediate portion of the plate disposedbetween said cylindricallyformed faces 15 is formed or provided withgear teeth 16 which have a pitch line substantially coincident with saidfaces 15 and an axis substantially coincident with the axis of saidcylindrically-formed faces.

A similar plate 17 is r may be secured to the upper face of thebase-block and said plate may have its ends formed with the.oylindrically-formed cam faces 18 and in termediate gear teeth 19 whichhave a pitch line substantially coincident with said faces 18 andan axissubstantially coincident with the axis of said faces 18. Saidcylindrical faces 18 may terminate in the horizontallydisposed flatfaces 20 on which an operating roller is adapted to be supported in theraised position of the bilge-bloclnand said plate 17 is preferablyformed with abutments 21 which are disposed at the ends of and extendedabove said flat faces 20 and are adapted to be engaged by an operatingroller and restrict it from movement beyond its operated position.

The raising and lowering means may also include a lower roller 25 and anupper roller 26 adapted to engage and roll upon said plates 17 and 14respectively. Said lower roller 25 is or may be formed with thecylindrical end-portions 27 adapted to engage and roll upon thecylindrically-formed faces 18 of said plate 17, and the intermediategear-toothed portion 28'which is adapted to mesh with and rotate incontact with .the gear teeth 19 of said plate 17. flhe pitch line ofsaid gear toothed portion 28 is adapted to be substantially coincidentwith the faces of the cylindrical end-portions 27 of said roller 25.The'upper roller 26 is or may be similarly formed and .may have thecylindrical end-portions which -are adapted to engage and roll upon thecylindricallyformed faces 15 of said plate 1a and the cylindricalend-portion 27 of said roller -25, and the intermediate gear-toothedportion 31 which is adapted to mesh with the gear teeth 16 oi said plateand also with the gear teeth 28 ot said roller 25. The pitch line of thegear toothed portion 31 of said roller 26 is adapted to be substantiallycoincident with the faces ot said end-portions 30.

Preferably said rollers 25 and 26 are o' the same diameter.

Said rollers are or may be adapted to maintain engagement and alignmentwith each other and with said plates 14 and 17 by the inter-meshing otthe gear teeth oit said rollers and plates although means preterably areprovided to ensure the operative engagement ot said rollers and plates.For this purpose, said plate 1l may be formed or provided with thecylindrical pivot-members 55 disposed on opposite sides thereot andarranged concentrically with the axis ot the gear-toothed portion andcylindricallyformed faces thereof, and the upper roller 26 may be formedor provided with pivotmembers which may comprise the reducedend-portions 36. Links 37 may be pivotally received on the pivot-membersof said plate and roller and secured in place by suitable means ascotter pins 38, whereby to connect the upper roller 2G to said plate 14efor rolling engagement therewith. rEhe plate l? may be similarly formedto provide the pivot-members 39 and the lower roller may have thereduced end-portions 10 which comprise pivot-members. Links 41 may bepivotally received on the pivot members of said plate 17 and roller 25whereby to connect said roller to said plate for rolling` engagementtherewith. Said rollers 25 and 26 may be connected by links 42 which arepivotally received on the pivot-members ot said rollers. Thearrange-ment of links is such that the rollers are held in operativeengagement with each other and with said plates but the links are notherein designed to act to raise and lower the bilge-engageing block, andthe rollers and plates may function without said links.

Said lower roller 25 may be iormed or provided with an extension 45 atone, or both, ends adapted to be engaged by a wrench or other suitabletool by which to rotate said roller and actuate the mechanism to raiseand lower the bilge-engaging block. A pawl lo is or may be pivoted tothe plate 17 and may be movable into engagement with the teeth of thelower roller 25 whereby to hold said roller, and consequently thebilge-engaging block, in raised position and lock the mechanism againstoperation; and said pawl must be removed from locking position beforethe mechanism can be operated to lower the bilge-engaging block.

In the lowered position of the bilge-engaging block, the mechanism maybe in some position as illustrated in Fig. 2. lVhen the bilge-engagingblock is to be raised, the

i imposed lower roller 25 is rotated and consequently rolls upward uponthe plate 17 of the baseblock 11, due to the engagement of the gearteeth ot' said roller and plate. The rotary movement ot said lowerroller 25 also etfects the rotation ot the upper roller 26 in thereverse direction, due to the engagement of the gear teeth ot saidrollers, and said upper roller is consequently rolled upon the plateletAof the bilge-engaging block 10 by reason of the engagement of t-he gearteeth of said upper roller and plate. The inward movement ot saidrollers serves forcibly to raise the bilge-engaging block 10. In theextreme inward position, the rollers may assume a position slightlybeyond the plane of the axes oi' the cylindrically-formed faces ot theplates 141 and 17 with the lower roller supported upon thehorizontally-disposed iace of the plate 17 and in engagement with theabutments 21 of said plate, in which position said rollers may be heldby the weight otl the bilge-engaging block or the weight of vthe vesselsupported by said block; and said. pawl 46 may positively lock saidrollers in such position, whereby to lock said bilge-r engaging block inraised position. lVhen the pawl is removed from engagement with thelower roller, the bilge-engaging block may be lowered by rotating thelower roller :in the proper direction whereby to move both rollersoutwardly and permit the bilgeengaging block to descend.

l claim:

1. ln a bilge-block, the combination of a base-block, a bilge-engagingblock pivoted thereto, and means for raising and lowering saidbilge-engaging block including superrollers disposed between said blocksand in rolling engagement with each other and said blocks, and means fordriving said rollers.

2. ln a bi'lge-block, the combination of a pivotally connectedbase-block and a bilgeengaging block, both blocks provided withconverging cam faces and means for raising and lowering thebilge-e-ngaging block including superimposed rollers disposed betweensaid blocks and the cam faces thereof and in rolling engagement witheach other and said cam tt'aces and means for driving said rollers uponeach other and said cam faces.

3. In a bilge-block, the combination of a base-block, a bilge-engagingblock pivoted thereto, and both blocks provided with gear teeth7 meanstor raising and lowering said bilge-engaging block includingsuperimposed rollers disposed between said blocks and in rollingengagement with each other and said blocks, said rollers having gearteeth adapted to mesh with the gear teeth of said blocks, and means iorrotating said rollers.

el.. ln a bilge-block, theI combination of a pivotally connectedbase-block and a bilgeengaging block, both blocks provided withconverging cam faces, means for raising and lowering said bilge-engagingblock including superimposed rollers disposed between said blocks andthe cam faces thereof and in rolling engagement with each other and saidcam faces, said rollers having intermeshing gear teeth also disposed inmesh with the gear teeth of said blocks, and means for rotating saidrollers.

5. In a bilge-block, the combination of a pivotally connected baseeblockand bilgeenga-ging block plates having cam faces and gear teeth carriedby;y the proximate faces of said blocks, and means to raise and lowersaid bilge-engaging kblock including superimposed ro-llers disposedbetween and in rolling engagement with the cam faces of said plates andhaving engaging gear teeth also .arranged in engagement with the gearteeth of said plates, and means to rotate said rollers.

6. In a bilge-bloclr, the combination of a base-block, a bilge-engagingblock pivoted thereto, and means for raising and lowering saidbilge-engaging block including a. roller disposed between said blocks ina position to roll upon said bilge-engaging block, and a second rollerdisposed between said blocks in a position to roll upon said base-blockand said iirst roller.

7. In a bilge-block, the combination of a base-block, a bilge-engagingblock pivoted thereto provided with a lower cam face, and means forraising and lowering said' bilge-engaging block including a rollerdisposed between said blocks in a position to roll upon said cam faceand a second roller disposed between said blocks in a position to rollupon sa-id base block and said first roller.

8. In a bilge-blocl the combination of a base-block, a bilge-engagingblock pivoted thereto provided with gear teeth and means for raising andlowering said bilge-engaging block including a roller disposed to rollupon said bilge-engaging block and having gear teeth arranged in meshwith the teeth of said bilge-engaging block and a second roller disposedto roll upon said base block and said first roller and having a positivedriving connection with said first roller.`

9. In a bilge-block, the combination of a base-block, a b-ilge-engagingblock pivoted thereto provided with a lower cam face and gear teeth, andmeans for raising and lowering said bilge-engaging block including aroller disposedbetween said blocks in a position to roll upon said camface and having gear teeth arranged in engagement with the gear teeth ofsaid bilge-engaging block, and a second roller disposed between saidblocks in a position to roll upon said base block and said first roller.l

lO. In a bilge-block, the combination of a base-block, a bilge-engagingblock pivoted thereto, a plate carried by the lower face of saidbilge-engaging block having a cam face and gear teeth, and means toraise and lower said bilge-engaging block including a roller disposedbetween said blocks in a position to roll upon the cam face of saidplate and having-gear teeth engaging the gear teeth of said plate` and asecond roller disposed between said blocks in a position to roll uponsaid base block and said first roller.

1i. In abilge-block, the combination of a base-block provided with anupper cam face, a bilge-engaging block pivoted to said base-` blocl; andmeans for raising and lowering said bilge-engaging block including aroller disposed betweensaid blocks in a position to roll upon saidbilge-engaging block, and a second roller disposed between said blocksin a position to roll in engagement with said first rollerkand the camface of' said basebloclr. l

12. In a vbilge-bloclr, the combination of a base-block provided with anupper cam face and gear teeth, a longe-engaging block pivoted to saidbase-block, and means for raising and lowering said bilge-engaging blockincluding a roller disposed between said blocks in a position to rollupon said bilgeengaging' block, and a. second roller disposed betweensaid blocks in a position to roll upon said first rollerand the vcamface of said base-block and havingA gear teeth meshing with the gearteeth of said base-block.

13. In a bilge-block, the combination of a base-block, a plate having facam face and gear teeth carried by the upper face of said base-block, abilge-engaging block pivoted to said base-block, andy means to raise andlower said bilge-engaging block including a roller disposed between saidblocks in a position to roll upon said b-ilge-engaging block, and asecond roller disposed between said blocks in a position to roll inengagement with said iirst roller and the cam face of saidk plate andhaving gear teeth meshing with the gear teeth of said plate.

,14. In a bilge-block, the combination of a base-block provided with acam face, a bilgeengaging block Divoted to said base block provided witha cam face and gear teeth,

`and means to raise and lower said bilge-engaging block including aroller disposed between said blocks in a position to roll upon the camface of said bilge-'engaging block and having gear teeth meshing withthe gear teeth of said block, and a second roller disposed between saidbloclrs in a position to roll upon said iirst roller and the cam face ofsaid base block and having gear teeth. meshing with the gear teeth ofsaid first roller.

15. In a bilge-bloclr, the combination of a base-block provided with acam face and gear teeth, a bilge-engaging block provided n Eil with acam face and gear teeth and pivoted to said base-block, and means toraise and lower said bilge-engaging' block including a roller disposedbetween said blocks in a position to roll upon the cam face of saidbilge-engaging block and having gear teeth meshing with the gear teethof said bilge-engaging block, and a second roller disposed between saidblocks in a position to roll upon said first roller and the cam face ofsaid base-block and having gear teeth meshing with the gear teeth ofsaid first roller and the gear teeth of said base-block.

.16. In a bilge-block, the combination of a base-block, a plate carriedby the upper face of said base-block having a cam face and gear teeth, abilge-engaging blocl pivoted to said base-block, a plate carried by thelower face of said bilge-engaging block having a cam face and gearteeth, and means to raise and lower said bilge-engagn ingblock includinga roller disposed between said blocks in a position to roll upon the camface of the plate of said bilge-en gaging block and having gear teethmeshing` with the gear teeth of said plate, a second roller disposedbetween said blocks in a position to roll upon said first roller and thecam face of the plate of said basablock, and having gear teeth meshingwith the gear teeth of said first roller and the gear teeth of the plateof said base-block.

17. In a bilge-blocl, the combination of a base-block, a bilge-engagingblock pivoted thereto, and means to raise and lower said bilge-engagingblock including co-acting superimposed rollers disposed between saidblocks in a position to roll upon each other and said base andbilge-engaging blocks.

18. In a bilge-block, the combination of a base-block, a bilge-engagingblock pivoted thereto, said blocks provided with inclined faces directedtoward each other, and means to raise and lower said bilge-engagino`block including co-acting superimposed rollers disposed between saidblocks in a position to roll upon each other and the inclined faces ofsaid blocks.

19. In a bilge-block, the combination of a base-block. a bilge-engagingblock pivoted thereto. said blocks provided with inclined faces directedtoward each other, and means to raise and lower said bilge-engagingblock including (1o-acting superimposed rollers disposed between saidblocks in a position to kroll upon each other and the inclined faces ofsaid blocks, said. rollers having gear-connection with said blocks.

20. In a bilge-bloclr, the combination of a base-block, a bilge-engagingblock pivoted thereto. said blocks provided with inclined faces directedtoward each other, and means to raise and lower said bilge-engagin gblock including co-acting superimposed rollers disposed between saidblocks in al position to roll upon each other and the inclined faces ofsaid blocks, said rollers having.; gear-connection with each other andwith said blocks.

21. In a bilge-block, the combination of a base-block, a bilge-engagingblock pivoted thereto, said blocks provided with inclined faces directedtoward each other, and means to raise and lower said bilge-engagingblock including co-acting superimposed rollers disposed between saidblocks in a position to roll upon each other and the inclined faces ofsaid blocks, and means to hold said rollers in a position correspondingto the raised position of said bilge-engaging block.

22. In a bilge-bloch, the combination of a base-block, a bilge-engagingblock pivoted thereto, said blocks provided with inclined faces directedtoward each other, and means to raise and lower said bilge-engagingblock including co-acting superimposed rollers disposed between saidblocks in a position to roll upon each other and the inclined faces ofsaid blocks and means including a pawi arranged to engage one of saidrollers and hold said rollers in a position corresponding to the raisedposition of said bilge and engaging block.

23. The combination of two pivotallyconnected blocks provided withopposed cam-faces, and means to move said blocks about their pivotalconnection including a pair of superimposed rollers disposed between andin rolling engagement with each other and said opposed cam-faces, saidrollers and blocks provided with intermeshing gear teeth constructed andarranged to effect the positive rotation of said rollers upon each otherand over said opposed cam-faces, and means to hold said rollers in theabovedescribed relation with each other and said opposed cam-faces.

9411-. In a bilge-block, the combination of a base block, abilge-engaging block pivoted thereto, said blocks provided with inclinedfaces directed toward each other, means to raise and lower saidbilge-engaging block including co-acting superimposed rollers disposedbetween said blocks in a position to roll upon each other andtheinclined faces of said. blocks, and links pivotally connecting saidrollers to each other and said blocks.

25. In a bilge-block, the combination of a base-block, a bilge-engagingblock pivoted thereto, said blocks provided with inclined faces directedtoward each other, and means for raising and lowering saidbilge-engaging block including co-acting superimposed rollers disposedbetween said blocks in a position to roll upon each other and theinclined faces of said blocks, said rollers having reduced end-portions,and links pivotally received on said reduced end-portions and pivotallyconnected with said blocks.

26. In e bilge-block, the combination of e and on the inclined faces ofsaid blocks, bese-block, a, bilgeeengeging block pivoted and means todrive said rollers to roll upon thereto, said blocks provided Withinclined each other and the inclined faces of said 10 faces directedtoward each other, and means blocks.

5 to reise and lower said huge-engaging block In testimony whereof7 Ihave signed my including rollers disposed between seid name to thisspecication. blocks in a position to roll upon each other JAMES L.CRANDALL.

